Beasts of the Mesozoic Hopes and Dreams

[Loon]

After all of the discussion in the BOTM Ceratopsian series thread about what people want to see from the upcoming series, I figured it'd be best to make a dedicated thread.

My biggest want from the Tyrannosaur series would be a yutyrannus.

[suspsy]

After all of the discussion in the BOTM Ceratopsian series thread about what people want to see from the upcoming series, I figured it'd be best to make a dedicated thread.

My biggest want from the Tyrannosaur series would be a yutyrannus.

I think Yutyrannus is the most likely tyrannosauroid to appear in the series. It's big, it's popular, and it's definitely got a cool appearance. It could also open up the possibility for a Sinotyrannus.

[stargatedalek]

a Yutyrannus body could also be reused for smaller Tyrannosauroids like Dilong or Guanlong done in scale with the raptors.

[Loon]

a Yutyrannus body could also be reused for smaller Tyrannosauroids like Dilong or Guanlong done in scale with the raptors.

Oh, I could definitely see that

[suspsy]

So here's a question I've posed before: what extant animals should inspire the tyrannosaurs' colour schemes? We've had birds for the raptors and lizards for the ceratopsians. What would work well with tyrannosaurs? Big cats, perhaps? I'd be fine with a Tyrannosaurus rex coloured similar to a Bengal tiger.

[Faelrin]

I'm not sure if it would translate 100% well, but I certainly think turtles have some interesting colorations that may look good on smaller tyrannosauroids. My little stinkpot turtle comes to mind in particularly with the markings on his face, that might look interesting on something:




For species, I'd be most interested in Yutyrannus, Guanlong, Gorgosaurus, and of course Tarbosaurus and Tyrannosaurus (including a juvenile or sub adult as a cheaper initial option as like was the case for the Triceratops in the ceratopsian series). And some other species that were contemporary (or at least from the same formation) with either the ceratopsians and/or the raptors that would certainly be good species to include:

Albertosaurus
Alioramus
Bistahieversor
Daspletosaurus
Dilong
Lythronax
Suskityrannus
Teratophoneus
Zhuchengtyrannus

Some others:
Appalachiosaurus
Nanuqsaurus
Proceratosaurus
Qianzhousaurus
Sinotyrannus

[mgaguilar]

@Faelrin would LOVE to see some of your suggestions.
This is an exciting moment in time as for the most part the most famous dinosaur in the world has had very drab color schemes. With both raptors and ceratopsians, the Beasts of the Mesozoic line has had some of the most adventurous colors in the history of dinosaur figures. Looking forward to the Tyrannosaur sculpts to start appearing!

[Kileskus]

Hope they will make something in 1:35, especially a tyrannosauroid. I think that's only chance to get something like tarbosaurus or daspletosaurus. Sad to see that they prefer larger figures, they are just to large and out of scale with every other figure despite this line.

[Shonisaurus]

They could make a series of mammalian reptiles of the Paleozoic (the best known). It would be a series of quite affordable figures for everyone. On the other hand, mammals reptiles of Paleozoic are little commercialized and some are very rare as shringasaurus, moschops.

Regarding the theme of the old post I also wish a series of dinosaurs from the Tyrannosaurus rex family (obviously included). It would be a fairly marketable bet by BoTM.

[PumperKrickel]

deleted

[Killekor]

So here's a question I've posed before: what extant animals should inspire the tyrannosaurs' colour schemes? We've had birds for the raptors and lizards for the ceratopsians. What would work well with tyrannosaurs? Big cats, perhaps? I'd be fine with a Tyrannosaurus rex coloured similar to a Bengal tiger.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Silva chooses to take as inspiration common farm birds as chickens, geeses, pheasants, peacocks etc etc... It would be really fun to see a chicken-colored T-Rex or a goose yutyrannus! Also peacocks and pheasants would allow some really bright color schemes.

I would also like a spinosaur, pterosaur or Permian/Paleozoic line (with edaphosaurus, scutosaurus, Dimetrodon and Diplocaulus).

What actually makes me undecided about getting some other BotM figures is their size and price. This was also one of the reasons why at the end I didn't get any ceratopsian from the kickstarter.

Killekor

[stargatedalek]

Turtles could certainly work, they are probably one of the best analogues for colour in reconstructing Mesozoic animals anyway (since their colouration is not shaped by predatory pressures from colourblind mammals). Though personally I'd save them for hadrosaurs or sauropods, even if just so there is something for those to reference besides large mammals (which, please don't).

Game birds could definitely work for Tyrannosauroids, and are probably also my first choice. It would need to be played carefully though because people tend to get defensive about Tyrannosaurs, and also quite frankly don't know a single thing about chickens and like to assume any comparison makes Tyrannosaurs into cartoon characters. I would avoid chickens, or at least avoid mentioning them by name and perhaps identify any chicken pattern used by its breed instead.

Guessing though, I think it'll be birds of prey. There are definitely some interesting pattern among them, but it feels like dangerously "trope-y" territory if you ask me. If this was a sci-fi franchise than by all means go ahead and make Tyrannosaurus a bald eagle, but that's just like, way to easy in any other context.


I would like to see the line transition to a new formula, given there are only so many dinosaur groups where a campaign format like this is likely to be successful, especially with the intention of heavy part sharing. Switching to locations for example could allow a campaign to cover one or two new groups with completely fresh sculpts, alongside a selection of animals reusing various parts from previous campaigns.

[Shonisaurus]

By the way, it would also be interesting prehistoric mammals, a line with twenty or thirty best-known prehistoric mammals would be a good idea. Even if they were only extinct elephants.

[Faelrin]

@stargatedalek I really think turtle colors would look good on hadrosaurids too actually, and you are right that perhaps it might be better to save those for them. I also quite like your game bird suggestion for the tyrannosauroids. Even if they might be designed without feathers, many of those birds have interesting colors and patterns that could still look good on a scaly hide.

Honestly come to think of it, while it's probably overdone at this point, I think the Yutyrannus would look good in the Silkie chicken's colors (assuming it is the variant with white feathers), especially with the black scaly parts, and the blue markings on the face.




I definitely think pheasants, peacocks, chickens (or Galliformes in general), and even ducks and geese as well (Anseriformes), etc have such fascinating color schemes they would probably look interesting on the early tyrannosauroids like Guanlong, Dilong, Proceratosaurus, etc, if not on the larger tyrannosaurids too. Also there's just something regal looking about many of the male game birds coloration's, that if playing off the tyrant lizard king theme, may be worth trying.

Just some examples of what I think might be interesting (though might not be entirely suitable for predatory animals. unless using the drab female colorations, or perhaps a mix of the two).

Golden Pheasant:



Common Pheasant:



Mallard duck:



Wood duck:



Red Jungle Fowl:



Mandarin Duck:



Indian peafowl:



Turkey (I definitely think a larger tyrannosaurid would probably look menacing in the colors of this bird, if having the red on the snout and neck):

[Loon]

 I'm liking the suggestions of game birds, though I feel like the more colorful pheasants should be saved for smaller Tyrannosaurs.

I've always liked the idea of a Harpy Eagle for Tyrannosaurus itself:

Though, maybe the largely lightly colored areas would be out of place on such a large animal.

[suspsy]

Either a wild turkey or a harpy eagle would probably turn out great for Tyrannosaurus rex, although I can think of some other potential candidates:

Crowned eagle.


Philippines eagle.


And then there's the one many consider to be the quintessential eagle, the golden.

[suspsy]

I would also like a spinosaur, pterosaur or Permian/Paleozoic line (with edaphosaurus, scutosaurus, Dimetrodon and Diplocaulus).

I don't think there are enough spinosaurs known from ample fossil material to justify an entire series. You've got Spinosaurus, Baryonyx, Suchomimus, Ichthyovenator, and Irritator, but after that, it's just a few bits and pieces. Oxalaia is only known from the very tip of its snout.

[Ravonium]

I don't think there are enough spinosaurs known from ample fossil material to justify an entire series. You've got Spinosaurus, Baryonyx, Suchomimus, Ichthyovenator, and Irritator, but after that, it's just a few bits and pieces. Oxalaia is only known from the very tip of its snout.

I too disagree that spinosaurs warrant their own series, but as that group has quite a reasonable following (even excluding the big guy), I think a series around them (and yes, just the 5 you mention) would end up being funded reasonably successfully, if ending up a bit divisive (although most of this would be over Spinosaurus' legs and posture).


RE tyrannosauroid colouration; I agree with the plurality of members here that galloanserans are probably the best choice to go with, considering they're more basal within Aves/Neornithes than birds of prey are (just like tyrannosauroids are more basal within Theropoda and Coelurosauria than dromaeosaurs are), and that I've always found that bird of prey colours fit better on dromaeosaurs (there is a reason both are called raptors).

It would need to be played carefully though because people tend to get defensive about Tyrannosaurs, and also quite frankly don't know a single thing about chickens and like to assume any comparison makes Tyrannosaurs into cartoon characters.

For the reason you mention here, I think basing a larger figure's colour scheme on a turkey would also not be a good idea. Turkeys have been known to display quite a bit of aggression towards humans, however that doesn't change the fact that the general public (and probably even more so the average diehard fan of a large tyrannosaur) tends to think of them as unintelligent birds whose only notable characteristic is getting eaten en masse at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hence, I highly doubt Silva would be able to give a tyrannosaurid a turkey colour scheme without a significant amount of diehard fans of x genus getting butthurt. If it's any consolation though, I think Silva would be perfectly fine using turkey patterns on one of the smaller and/or more basal figures (Yutyrannus, Dilong, Guanlong, Appalachiosaurus etc.)

I think using a cassowary (any species) would be a good substitute for whatever larger figure Silva would use a turkey for otherwise. While I get that it's a stereotypical choice, cassowaries (especially Southern cassowaries) are quite close in colouration to turkeys, and they still have the main advantage that galloanserans, for me, have in regards to colouration (they're basal within Aves/Neornithes).

[stargatedalek]

I think a spinosaur line could work. Spinosaurus itself could be in a large and small scale like Triceratops was to fill out the roster, probably Suchomimus too. As for posture, though both standing on the hind legs and putting weight on the hands are unlikely, they are still popular reconstructions and they could be included and labeled (incredibly) speculatively as Sigilmassasaurus and Oxalaia. Spinosaurus most likely leaned either on its forelimbs (not hands), underside, or both on the rare occasions it actually came to land (which technically makes it a biped, but I try to avoid saying that as it implies a traditional theropod posture). Between the three largely interchangeable names the two more popular but unlikely, and the generally regarded most accurate reconstructions could be covered.

The limb proportions of the 2014 reconstruction have been thoroughly confirmed at this point and are supported by several additional specimens.

Let's be honest, the ceratopsian line probably had too many options; scaling back at least a little may not be a bad idea.

[Cretaceous Crab]

I'm just re-asserting my post from the other thread, for the sake of discussion.

I think part of what makes the production easier / cheaper / efficient is that with most of the figures, the body sculpt and legs are the same. For example, even with the raptors, the bodies are all nearly identical; the tails, the heads, some have smaller sickle claws or larger wings on the forearms, etc. Similarly, most of the ceratopsian body sculpts are the same; its mainly the heads that changed.

So going forward, Mr Silva is probably looking at dino types for which he can use that same plan. Hadrosaurs, and ornithopods would be easy, as would small-medium prosauropods, and abelisaurs, and even perhaps some carnosaurids. Or at least, if I were in his shoes, that's the approach I would take.

Like Shoni said, true sauropods would be vastly expensive at the 1/18 scale level. I mean, the JP Legacy Brachi has been retailing for about $49.99, which is cheaper than the large BOTM horned faces, and the Brachi has limited articulation. I can only imagine the price tag on a 1/18 scale large sauropod would be.

And the thyreophorans (armored dinos like stegos and ankylos) would be too unique to one another, as their plates, osteoderms, spikes, etc are all positioned differently with each genus. Will he ever do them? Maybe. But probably not anytime soon.

In terms of color references, it would seem that Mr Silva's inspirations for coloration are similar to those for my own repaints. For predators species, I usually refer to snakes and carnivorous lizards. For ornithopods and ceratopsians, I look to smaller lizards. And I use turtles for sauropods, and thyreophorans.

Hopes and dreams? I would LOVE a BotM spinosaurid series, but for reasons already stated, I don't think it is likely. Now a series of coelophysoidea / dilophosauridae would be interesting and I think, easy to do, given the similarities in general body design. It would definitely allow for some obscure genera like Zupaysaurus or Liliensternus.

Of course, as I stated in the other thread, it would be the bomb if the new tyrannosaurid line included an Appalachiosaurus.